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Strategic Lens

Argentina and South Africa

First country

Second country

In 2025, Argentina sold USD 374 million of goods to South Africa and bought USD 132 million from it. The DESTA database lists 2 trade agreements that include both countries, the most recent being MERCOSUR Southern African Customs Union (SACU) (2016). Both are members of the G20. Their agreement score in UN General Assembly voting was 87 percent in 2023, and 92 percent on average over 2019 to 2023.

Benefits

  • BothTrade in machinery, vehicles and iron and steel runs both ways in similar amounts: Argentina sold USD 56.4 million and South Africa sold USD 76.2 million in 2025.
  • BothMERCOSUR Southern African Customs Union (SACU), signed 2008 and in force since 2016.
  • BothBoth are members of the G20.

Constraints

  • BothTwo-way trade in agricultural and food products fell 53 percent, from USD 421 million in 2019 to USD 196 million in 2025.
  • BothTwo-way trade in machinery, vehicles and iron and steel fell 40 percent, from USD 222 million in 2019 to USD 133 million in 2025.
  • BothFlows are one-sided: in 2025, Argentina sold USD 193 million of agricultural and food products, against USD 3.7 million the other way.

Sources: UN Comtrade (public preview API), annual goods trade, HS classification (retrieved 26 September 2026); DESTA: Design of Trade Agreements database, version 02_03 (retrieved 25 September 2026); Wikidata, statements on membership (property P463) (retrieved 26 September 2026); United Nations General Assembly voting data (Voeten, Strezhnev and Bailey), agreement scores (retrieved 25 September 2026)

Last updated on 26 September 2026

At a glance

Goods trade, both ways
USD 505 million
2025, as reported by Argentina
Argentina to South Africa
USD 374 million
2025, as reported by Argentina
South Africa to Argentina
USD 132 million
2025, as reported by Argentina

What connects Argentina and South Africa

Economy

Trade in goodsIn 2025, Argentina sold USD 374 million of goods to South Africa and bought USD 132 million from it.

Resources

Agriculture and foodIn 2025, Argentina sold USD 193 million of agricultural and food products to South Africa and bought USD 3.7 million from it.

Industry

Supply chains and manufacturingIn 2025, Argentina sold USD 56.4 million of machinery, vehicles and iron and steel to South Africa and bought USD 76.2 million from it.

Diplomacy

Agreements and treatiesThe DESTA database lists 2 trade agreements that include both countries, the most recent being MERCOSUR Southern African Customs Union (SACU) (2016).Multilateral alignmentBoth are members of the G20. Their agreement score in UN General Assembly voting was 87 percent in 2023, and 92 percent on average over 2019 to 2023.

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